Bioethical analysis to the therapeutic use of Cannabis: Integrative review.

INTRODUCTION:: Despite being considered as a contravention under some countries' legislation, the therapeutic use of Cannabis sativa has been growing in Brazil, due to the promising results observed in many pathologies. Such a scenario has fostered the need to deepen discussions on the subject and possibly revise legislation governing the substance use and access. OBJECTIVES:: Identify the types of stigma related to the therapeutic use of Cannabis and describe the strategies people use to overcome stigma. METHODS:: This integrative review was carried out in the databases PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, with 565 articles being retrieved. Triads' cross-check were done, first maintaining the "cannabis" and "therapeutic use" pair, added by "stigma," "bioethics," "ethics," "social consequences," and "legal consequences." The final selection resulted in six articles. ETHICAL CONSIDERATION:: However, the ethical issues that pervade and regulate decisions on this subject must be considered. RESULTS:: Different dimensions and types of stigma related to the therapeutic use of Cannabis have been identified. The bioethical principle of autonomy was an expression of citizenship and human rights, mitigating internal conflicts related to self-stigma and the effects of external stigma on the person's life. CONCLUSION:: It was possible to identify the types of stigma related to the therapeutic use of Cannabis is an internal dimension represented (self-stigma) and an external dimension, represented (social and structural stigmas) and to identify strategies adopted to face this stigma: skills training group for users, elaboration of laws and specific programs to clarify the therapeutic use of Cannabis with a greater social scope, and support for family members. Thus, contributing to the building of people's autonomy in a broader context of decision-making autonomy and executive autonomy will provide the development of people's capacity to perform complex tasks of self-management and, consequently, to continue promoting and preserving their decision-making process and their capacity to plan and perform tasks associated with managing their lives and their treatments.

Assistive technology and active aging according to professionals working in community groups. / Tecnologia assistiva e envelhecimento ativo segundo profissionais atuantes em grupos de convivência.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the knowledge of professionals about assistive technology and its importance in the elderly's life. METHOD: Exploratory descriptive qualitative study performed with professionals working in three community groups in the city of Cajazeiras (state of Paraíba/PB). Data were collected through an interview with semi-structured script and analyzed according to the Content Analysis Technique. RESULTS: Participation of 45 professionals. Four categories were identified, namely: Knowledge about assistive technology; Professionals' lack of knowledge about available assistive technologies for implementation in work with the elderly; Use of assistive technology by the elderly; Impact on professional practices after implementation of assistive technology. CONCLUSION: Some of professionals have knowledge about assistive technology and others make a wrong interpretation by confusing it with working instruments. In spite of the positive impact of assistive technology on certain professionals' practice, there is need for training in order to provide a better use of assistive technologies by the elderly.

Social representations of integrative community therapy by the elderly. / Representações sociais sobre terapia comunitária integrativa construídas por idosos.

OBJECTIVE: To elicit the social representations of the elderly regarding integrative community therapy (ICT). METHOD: This is an exploratory study conducted with 273 elderly people in a municipality of northeastern Brazil, in 2014. It is based on the theory of social representations and the free-association test for the inductor term "integrative community therapy". The data were processed using EVOC software and examined with the structural approach of social representations, followed by a similarity analysis and confrontation with literature. RESULTS: The organisation and meaning of the representations of ICT chiefly occurred through the core element: Group. CONCLUSION: The analysis revealed that the ICT is a support network for the elderly, where they feel they belong to a group and feel empowered through participation in the sessions.

[Preventive practices in the elderly and vulnerability to HIV]. / Práticas preventivas de idosos e a vulnerabilidade ao HIV.

OBJECTIVE: To know the vulnerability of the elderly to the HIV infection in the context of preventive practices. METHOD: Exploratory qualitative study, lead from December 2012 to May 2013, with 37 nursing Coexistence Groups in João Pessoa--Paraiba. The Focus Group was elected as the research technique, and the empirical material obtained was subjected to a Content Analysis Technique, thematic modality. RESULTS: The elderly recognize the importance of preventive practices, but they face difficulties in its use when their emotional relationships with their partners do not favor preventive behavior, resulting in vulnerability. The elderly showed the population groups most vulnerable to HIV and do not recognize themselves as such. CONCLUSION: The complexity of the various contexts experienced by the elderlies of this study indicate the need for more research that allows advances in the understanding of subjectivity imposed in relations that underlie the aging process and the experience of sexuality in this age group.

[Social representations of elders' quality of life]. / Representações sociais sobre qualidade de vida para idosos.

This study aimed to identify elders' social representations of quality of life. This is an exploratory study with a sample of 240 elders, of both sexes. For data collection we used a Free Association Test with Words, using the inductive stimulus 'quality of life" and sociodemographic variables. The interviews were analyzed with the software Alceste. Of the 240 studied eslders, 167 were women, with the dominant age from 60 to 69 years, income between two and three minimum wages, most of the married and with catholicism as the predominant religion. The results from Alceste pointed towards seven hierarchical classes: accessibility, work, activity, support affection, care and interactions. Social representations of quality of life by elders can support professionals in understanding the adhesion to preventive practices for the elderly and in strengthening policies directed to this population.

[Assessing the risk of falls for the elderly in Basic Health Units]. / Avaliação do risco de quedas em idosos atendidos em Unidade Básica de Saúde.

The world population is aging rapidly, which poses a greater challenge for the institutions involved which, in turn, require new public health policies that include the prevention of falls. The objective of this study was to assess the risk of falls in the elderly. This epidemiological, cross-sectional study was performed at a family health unit, using a quantitative approach. The sample consisted of 150 elderly individuals evaluated from January to April 2009. Data were collected using the Fall Risk Score, which was analyzed using SPSS 17.0. Of all seniors evaluated, 58.8% did not suffer falls. However, 63 seniors did suffer falls, 71.4% of this total experienced 1 to 2 falls, and the main intrinsic cause they reported was dizziness/vertigo, whereas the extrinsic cause was wet or slippery floors. Therefore, it is concluded that it is important to assess the risk of falls among the elderly so that preventive measures can be taken, with a view to maximizing their quality of life.

[Active aging from the perspective of aged individuals who are functionally independent]. / O envelhecimento ativo sob o olhar de idosos funcionalmente independentes.

The objective of this study was to identify the social representations of the elderly regarding active aging. Semi-structured interviews were performed with 100 functionally independent aged individuals from João Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil. The data was organized and analyzed using Alceste software. Results showed that the aged individuals' statements about active aging are permeated with positive contents. However, when aging is not associated with the word active, it is still represented as losses and disabilities. Despite the existence of losses during the process, active aging should be encouraged among the elderly, as it means living a quality, plentiful life. Maintaining the elderly functionally independent is the first step to achieving active aging and thus improving their quality of life.

[Social representations about occupational risk in the perspective of the health worker]. / Representações sociais sobre o risco ocupacional na perspectiva do trabalhador da saúde.

We aimed to identify the meanings constructed about occupational risk by health workers through the structural approach to social representation. 220 health professionals from a public hospital in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, participated in this research. The technique of free evocation of words was used and data were examined through an articulated analysis of frequency average and evocation order Results shows that central systems have different compositions in three groups: disease and death for doctors, perforating and danger for nurses and contamination, disease, infection and danger for dentists. The complexity of bond among work and risk suggests that strategies and alternatives of actions might be operationalized with integration of different professional categories and fields of knowledge towards a common objective starting from an interdisciplinary space and expanding the awareness level of these professionals concerning to consequences of their practices to health.

Knowledge of sex workers about HIV/AIDS and its influence on sexual practices.

OBJECTIVE: assess the knowledge of sex workers about HIV/AIDS and its influence on sexual practices. METHOD: Ninety women participated in the study. The Scientific Knowledge Test about HIV/AIDS and sexual practices was used. The Wald test was applied to verify the relationship between knowledge and sexual practices with statistical significance of p<0.05. RESULTS: the score of 61.7% of correct answers in all three dimensions stands out; 72.2% have sexual intercourse without a condom in exchange for a large amount of money; 53.3% have sex during the menstrual period; 62.2% have sexual intercourse with drug users; 75.6% have sex with clients showing lesions on the penis or anus. The B coefficient (-0.19) showed that the higher the knowledge about HIV/AIDS, the lower the practice of risky sexual behaviors. CONCLUSION: the influence of knowledge about HIV/AIDS on sexual practices was not statistically significant, but the sexual practices and insufficient knowledge about prevention, physiological and behavioral attributes were observed.

Knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes of older women in HIV/AIDS prevention.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the knowledge, religious beliefs and the adoption of preventive measures against HIV/AIDS of non-Catholic elderly women. METHOD: A qualitative study, carried out in religious institutions of a municipality in the state of Ceará, Northeast Brazil, with 78 elderly women. Of these, 64 were evangelicals, seven spiritualists and seven Jehovah's Witnesses. A semi-structured interview script was used followed by thematic content analysis of participants' responses. RESULTS: After analyzing the empirical data, three categories were elaborated: the first presented the knowledge they had about AIDS; the second, highlighted the beliefs attributed to people with HIV/AIDS; and the third, presented the preventive measures to HIV/AIDS adopted by them. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: There were participants with knowledge gaps and failure to use preventive measures against HIV/AIDS. They suggested that religious institutions can be venues for lectures on HIV/AIDS prevention.

Conhecimento de pacientes com câncer sobre cuidados paliativos: estudo bibliométrico / Knowledge of patients with cancer about palliative care: a bibliometric study / Conocimiento de los pacientes con cáncer sobre cuidados paliativos: un estudio bibliométrico

Resumo Esta pesquisa busca caracterizar os indicadores bibliométricos acerca do conhecimento de pacientes com câncer sobre cuidados paliativos. Por meio da associação dos descritores " patient ", " palliative care ", " knowledge " e " neoplasm " encontrou-se baixa taxa de publicação, com tendência a elevação, além de rede de conexão limitada entre os autores. Os países asiáticos foram os que mais publicaram, mas observou-se nível de conhecimento limitado sobre o tema, pois há forte associação com cuidados de fim de vida, destinados apenas a pacientes com câncer, internados em hospital e sem cura. Este estudo permitiu mapear os principais indicadores bibliométricos a respeito do conhecimento de pacientes com câncer sobre os cuidados paliativos, sendo perceptível o crescimento de publicações sobre o tema, mas ainda com baixa quantidade total. Evidencia-se, assim, a necessidade de mais publicações para a obtenção de maior entendimento sobre o tema.

Abstract This research seeks to characterize the bibliometric indicators regarding cancer patients's knowledge about palliative care. Bibliographic search associating the descriptors " patient, " " palliative care, " " knowledge " and " neoplasm " found low publication ratio and limited conexion among authors. Asian countries account for most publications, but the level of knowledge on the topic was limited given its strong association with end-of-life care aimed at hospitalized cancer patients without possibility of cure. Mapping the main bibliometric indicators on knowledge about palliative care pointed out the need for further publications on the topic to provide better understanding.

Resumen Este estudio tiene como objetivo caracterizar los indicadores bibliométricos de conocimiento de los pacientes con cáncer sobre cuidados paliativos. A partir de la asociación entre las palabras clave " patient ", " palliative care ", " knowledge " y " neoplasm ", se constató una baja tasa de publicación, con tendencia al alza, así como una limitada red de conexiones entre autores. Los países asiáticos fueron los que más publicaron, aunque el nivel de conocimientos sobre el tema era limitado, ya que lo asocian a los cuidados al final de la vida, destinados únicamente a los pacientes oncológicos, hospitalizados y no curados. Este estudio permitió trazar los principales indicadores bibliométricos sobre el conocimiento de los cuidados paliativos por parte de los pacientes con cáncer, y se observó que hubo un aumento de las publicaciones sobre el tema, aunque el número total sigue siendo bajo. Esto pone de manifiesto la necesidad de más publicaciones para conocer mejor el tema.

Cuidados intensivos de enfermagem ao idoso com delirium: um protocolo de revisão de escopo / Intensive nursing care to older adults with delirium: a protocol of scoping review

OBJETIVO: explorar sistematicamente a literatura quanto aos cuidados de enfermagem prestados aos idosos internados com delirium, em unidades de terapia intensiva, sejam eles para prevenção, sejam eles para manejo do delirium. MÉTODO: protocolo de revisão de escopo, estruturado pelas recomendações do Manual do Instituto Joanna Briggs, utilizando as seguintes bases de dados: PubMed via MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science e Google Scholar. A bibliografia encontrada será organizada através do gerenciador EndNote. Após a exclusão dos estudos duplicados, as citações serão transferidas para o software Rayyan. Em seguida, será iniciada a triagem das referências por dois pesquisadores independentes. O processo da seleção de estudos será exibido no fluxograma adaptado do Checklist PRISMA-ScR. Os dados serão extraídos dos estudos através de uma planilha desenvolvida no programa Microsoft Excel pelos próprios autores, avaliando e interpretando as informações de acordo com o objetivo proposto. Os dados serão organizados em tabelas, quadros e fluxogramas, com discussão narrativa.

OBJECTIVE: to systematically explore the literature regarding the nursing care provided to the older adult hospitalized with delirium in intensive care units for the prevention or management of delirium. METHOD: scoping review protocol, structured by the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute manual, utilizing the following database: MEDLINE via PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. We will organize the citations found through the EndNote manager. After the exclusion of duplicated studies, we will transfer the citations to the Rayyan software. Afterward, two independent researchers will begin the screening of titles / abstracts. We will present the selection process of studies in the Checklist PRISMA-ScR adopted flowchart. The authors will extract the data of the studies through a spreadsheet developed in the Microsoft Excel, evaluating and interpreting the information according to the objective of the study. We will organize the data in charts, tables, and flowcharts with a narrative discussion.

[Thinking health under the perspective of Brazilian immigrants living in Portugal]. / Pensando a saúde na perspectiva dos imigrantes brasileiros em Portugal.

This study aimed at determining the social representations on health and immigrants constructed by Brazilians. Samples consisted of one hundred Brazilian male and female immigrants living in Lisbon, Portugal. The technique of free evocation, which uses as inductive words "health "and "immigrant", were used for data collection. Data were submitted to analyses using the software EVOC (Ensemble de Programmes Permettant L'analyse des Evocations). We detected the presence of the psycho-affective and social-interaction dimensions as to health, whereas as to "immigrant", individuals related it to a difficult experience that generates pain, prejudice, and homesickness, where the love for the family are the reason to immigrate to obtain better life conditions.

Assessment of risk of falls in elderly living at home.

Objective: to assess the risk of falls in elderly, by comparing the sociodemographic and cognitive factors, history of falls and self-reported comorbidities. Method: cross-sectional and quantitative study with 240 elderly. Data were collected based on the social profile, through the instrument of risk of falls and assessment of falls, by univariate analysis, bivariate and multiple logistic regression. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19 was used for statistical analysis. Results: there was a significant association of the risk of falls, as measured by the Fall Risk Score, with sex (<0.001), age (0.054), cognitive status (<0.001) and history of falls (<0.001). All variables were statistically significant and contributed to the occurrence of falls. In logistic regression, the variables that showed association with risk of falls were: fall, with whom they live, hypertension and visual impairment. Conclusion: female gender, older elderly (over 80 years old), with low cognitive status and occurrence of previous falls in the last six months are factors that increase the prevalence of falls. In logistic regression, the variables that were associated with risk of falls were: fall, with whom they live, visual impairment and rheumatologic diseases.

Sexualidade da pessoa idosa: vivências de profissionais de saúde e idosos / Older adults' sexuality: experiences of health professionals and aged individuals / La sexualidad en la vejez: vivencias de profesionales de la salud y de ancianos

RESUMO Objetivo: verificar as vivências de profissionais de saúde e idosos relacionadas à sexualidade da pessoa idosa. Método: qualitativo, realizado com 23 profissionais de saúde e 12 idosos da Atenção Primária à Saúde, em Queimadas/PB - BR, no período de março a abril de 2021. Utilizou-se questionário e entrevista, cujos dados foram processados pelo software IRAMUTEQ. Resultados: corpus textual com 35 textos e 131 Segmentos de Textos, equivalente a 71,2% de retenção, originando cinco classes, sendo as classes um e quatro relacionadas à população de idosos. Já as classes dois, três e cinco são atribuídas aos profissionais de saúde. Conclusão: evidenciou-se a necessidade de informar e educar os idosos em saúde, no sentido de empoderá-los de conhecimento, mudando concepções pré-estabelecidas sobre a sexualidade; e de capacitação dos profissionais para discutir e trabalhar a temática. Enfatiza-se a importância da educação em saúde como estratégia para ampliar a qualidade de vida dos idosos.

ABSTRACT Objective: to verify the experiences of health professionals and aged individuals related to older adults' sexuality. Method: a qualitative study conducted from March to April 2021 with 23 health professionals and 12 aged individuals treated in Primary Health Care in Queimadas/PB - Brazil. A questionnaire and an interview were used, whose data were processed in the IRAMUTEQ software. Results: text corpus with 35 texts and 131 Text Segments, which equals to 71.2% retention, giving rise to five classes, of which classes one and four are related to the population of older adults. In turn, classes two, three and five are assigned to the health professionals. Conclusion: the need to inform and educate older adults in terms of health was evidenced, empowering them with knowledge, changing pre-established conceptions about sexuality; as well as to train the professionals to discuss and work on the theme. The importance of health education as a strategy to improve older adults' quality of life is emphasized.

RESUMEN Objetivo: verificar las vivencias de profesionales de la salud y de ancianos en relación con la sexualidad en la vejez. Método: estudio cualitativo realizado entre marzo y abril de 2021 con 23 profesionales de la salud y 12 ancianos que se atienden en Atención Primaria de la Salud, en Queimadas/PB, Brasil. Se utilizó un cuestionario y entrevistas, cuyos datos se procesaron en el programa de software IRAMUTEQ. Resultados: corpus textual compuesto por 35 textos y 131 Segmentos de Texto, lo que equivalente a un 71,2% de retención, dando origen a cinco clases: las clases uno y cuatro relacionadas con la población de ancianos y las clases dos, tres y cinco atribuidas a los profesionales de la salud. Conclusión: se evidenció la necesidad de informar y educar a los ancianos en materia de salud, en el sentido de proveerles conocimiento, modificando concepciones preestablecidas sobre la sexualidad, además de la necesidad de capacitar a los profesionales para debatir y trabajar el tema. Se enfatiza la importancia de la educación en salud como estrategia para mejorar la calidad de vida de los ancianos.

O impacto da COVID-19 na população idosa com doença pulmonar crônica não transmissível / The impact of COVID-19 on the elderly population with non-communicable chronic lung disease

Introdução: Envelhecer resulta em transformações biológicas que afetam os indivíduos de maneira heterogênea. A maioria dos sistemas orgânicos experimenta redução em suas funções motoras e cognitivas, interferindo na capacidade de adaptação frente a agentes estressores. Na pneumonia pelo SARS-CoV2, evidenciaram-se implicações da função pulmonar em idosos com doenças pulmonares crônicas. Objetivo: Investigar as evidências científicas sobre implicações clínicas da COVID-19 em indivíduos idosos com doença pulmonar crônica não transmissível. Métodos: revisão integrativa realizada em novembro de 2020 nas bases de dados CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Embase, Scopus, Medline/Pubmed (via National Library of Medicine) e Web of Science, utilizando-se os descritores "COVID-19", "SARS-CoV2 infection", "aged", "chronic pulmonar obstructive disease", "non-communicable diseases" e operadores booleanos AND e OR. Foram incluídos textos científicos originais, a exemplo de artigos disponibilizados na íntegra, sobre a COVID-19 em idosos com Doenças Respiratórias Crônicas Não Transmissíveis. Resultados: Idosos com comorbidades estão propensos a complicações durante a infecção por COVID-19, com altas taxas de mortalidade e alterações tomográficas atípicas. Conclusão: A forma grave da COVID-19 e a elevada mortalidade em idosos podem ser atribuídas à alta comorbidade, prevalência de demência e síndromes geriátricas. (AU)

Alcoolismo e envelhecimento nas pesquisas em saúde: um perfil bibliométrico / Alcoholismo y envejecimiento en las investigaciones en salud: un perfil bibliométrico / Alcoholism and aging in health research: a bibliometric profile

Objetivo: avaliar as publicações científicas sobre o alcoolismo e o envelhecimento. Métodos: estudo bibliométrico, realizado por meio da análise de artigos disponíveis na base de dados da LILACS, EBSCOT e MEDLINE, no período de 2010-2016. Resultados: os achados demostram a crescente busca sobre a temática em diversos países, nos últimos anos, aperfeiçoando a importância da contribuição da mesma quando se pensa em saúde pública, bem como os pesquisadores atuam em diversas áreas de conhecimentos; o que possibilita descobertas que podem informar o desenvolvimento e a implementação de ações de prevenção e promoção da saúde, que refletem as necessidades de saúde mental do envelhecimento. Conclusão: é importante que os profissionais de saúde e a população idosa discutam sobre consumo de álcool como componente do manejo da doença crônica. Nos casos de consumo de álcool, os provedores têm a oportunidade de fornecer uma intervenção breve ou oferecer referências, se necessário

Objetivo: Evaluar las publicaciones científicas sobre el alcoholismo y el envejecimiento. Métodos: Estudio bibliométrico, realizado por medio del análisis de artículos disponibles en la base de datos de LILACS, EBSCOT y MEDLINE, en el período 2010-2016. Resultados: Los hallazgos de esta revisión demuestran que la creciente demanda sobre la temática en diversos países, en los últimos años, perfeccionando la importancia de la contribución de la misma cuando se piensa en salud pública, así como los investigadores actúan en diversas áreas de conocimientos; lo que posibilita descubrimientos que pueden informar el desarrollo y la implementación de acciones de prevención y promoción de la salud que reflejan las necesidades de salud mental del envejecimiento. Conclusión: Es importante que los profesionales de salud y la población anciana discutan sobre el consumo de alcohol como componente del manejo de la enfermedad crónica. En los casos de consumo de alcohol, los proveedores tienen la oportunidad de proporcionar una intervención breve o ofrecer referencias. A pesar de la relevancia, todavía son escasos los estudios sobre la temática, en el escenario de investigación nacional, siendo necesario más producción científica

Objective:Tevaluate scientific publications about alcoholism and aging. Methods: It included analysis of items available in the database of the LILACS, EBSCOT and MEDLINE, in the period from 2010 to 2016. Results: The findings of this review show increasing bibliometric search on the subject in several countries, in recent years, enhancing the importance of the contributions on the subject in terms of public health, as well as researchers working in different areas of knowledge. Conclusion: It is important that health professionals and the elderly debate about alcohol consumption as a component of chronic disease management and that the health care network ensures quick intervention or referrals. Despite the relevance, studies on the subject are still scarce in the national research scenario, and more scientific production is needed

Evidências científicas sobre hérnia de disco na pessoa idosa / Scientific evidence on disk hernia in elderly person / Evidencia científica sobre el disco hernia en persona mayor

Objetivo: identificar as produções científicas sobre hérnia de disco na pessoa idosa. Método: protocolo de scoping review segundo o método do Joanna Briggs Institute com artigos das bases de dados CINAHL, Scopus, Cochrane, Web of Science, MEDLINE e ScienceDirect. Analisaram-se 10 artigos cujos critérios de inclusão foram investigações primárias e/ou secundárias, qualitativas e quantitativas escritos em inglês, português e espanhol, formando 3 categorias temáticas. O recorte do estudo foi delimitado a partir da observação na prática profissional dos pesquisadores sobre o aumento de casos de idosos com hérnia de disco. Resultados: a cirurgia representa constante indicação médica para o tratamento da hérnia de disco. Conclusão:a lombalgia decorrente da hérnia de disco é uma frequente causa de incapacidade nos adultos e idosos com protocolos cirúrgicos constantes, principalmente quando há compressão neural. No entanto, estudos mostram a possibilidade de regressão quando os pacientes são submetidos aos tratamentos conservadores

Objective: to identify scientific productions about herniated discs in the elderly. Method: scoping review protocol according to the Joanna Briggs Institute method with articles from the CINAHL, Scopus, Cochrane, Web of Science, MEDLINE and ScienceDirect databases. Were analyzed 10 articles whose inclusion criteria were primary and / or secondary, qualitative and quantitative investigations written in English, Portuguese and Spanish, forming 3 thematic categories. The study was delimited based on the observation in the professional practice of researchers about the increase in cases of elderly people with herniated discs. Results:surgery is a constant medical indication for the treatment of herniated discs. Conclusion: low back pain due to herniated discs is a frequent cause of disability in adults and the elderly with constant surgical protocols, especially when there is neural compression. However, studies show the possibility of regression when patients are submitted to conservative treatments

Objetivo: identificar producciones científicas sobre hernias discales en ancianos. Método: protocolo de revisión del alcance según el método del Instituto Joanna Briggs con artículos de las bases de datos CINAHL, Scopus, Cochrane, Web of Science, MEDLINE y ScienceDirect. Se analizaron 10 artículos cuyos criterios de inclusión fueron investigaciones primarias y / o secundarias, cualitativas y cuantitativas escritas en inglés, portugués y español, formando 3 categorías temáticas. El estudio se delimitó en función de la observación en la práctica profesional de los investigadores sobre el aumento de casos de personas mayores con discos herniados. Resultados: la cirugía representa una indicación médica constante para el tratamiento de discos herniados. Conclusión:el dolor lumbar debido a discos herniados es una causa frecuente de discapacidad en adultos y ancianos con protocolos quirúrgicos constantes, especialmente cuando hay compresión neural. Sin embargo, los estudios muestran la posibilidad de regresión cuando los pacientes son sometidos a tratamientos conservadores

Beliefs of older adults about their vulnerability to HIV/Aids, for the construction of nursing diagnoses.

OBJECTIVE: to know the beliefs of older adults about their vulnerability to HIV/Aids, and to identify nursing diagnoses. METHOD: a field research implemented in Family Health Units, in João Pessoa, Brazil. The sample included 250 older adults of both genders with data collected from April to July of 2011. A Test of Free Word Association was applied using the term HIV/Aids. A content analysis and cross-mapping of the most frequent terms with the International Classification for Nursing Practice, 2011 were performed. RESULTS: 202 terms were identified in terms, with an overall frequency of 1156. Of the 202 terms, 16 were more frequent and were used to construct the nursing diagnoses. The diagnoses identified were knowledge about appropriate sexual behavior, ability for partial protection, fear of death and hopelessness. CONCLUSION: understanding these beliefs drew from knowledge about factors related to, vulnerability to HIV/Aids aimed at planning health care actions for this population segment.

Changes and events over life course: a comparative study between groups of older adults.

OBJECTIVE: to identify the changes which had occurred over the last year in the life of older adults, as well as the values attributed to these changes. METHOD: this is a multicentric, cross-sectional study, of the inquiry type, undertaken in three cities of the Brazilian Northeast, investigating two distinct groups of older adults. RESULTS: among the 236 older adults interviewed, it was observed that 30.0% reported health as the main change in their life course in the last year, this category being the most significant response among the older adults aged between 80 and 84 years old (37.7%). Changes in the family were mentioned by 11.5% of the older adults; death (9.6%) and alterations in routine activities (9.6%). In relation to the value attributed to these changes, it was ascertained that for 64.7% of the older adults aged between 65 and 69 years old, these changes were positive. In the older group, 49.4% of the older adults believe that their changes were related to losses. CONCLUSION: the knowledge of the changes mentioned, the value attributed to these changes, and the self-evaluation of health provide information which assists in formulating actions which are more specific to the real needs of these age groups. They also provide the health professionals with a better understanding of how some experiences are experienced in the life trajectories of these older adults.